Eaton Polar Air Quiet Air Compressor - Grumman Style

Eaton Polar Air Quiet Air Compressor - Grumman Style: Here is a look at the new big and shiny Eaton air compressor we finally got for the shop. Ordered it last year but well;l worth the wait. Video 1,420 in the Hit Parade.

[@larrybell5144]

Thanks for keeping us up to date on what is happening in your area.

[@GrummanPilots]

Thought folks would like to the see the air compressor.

[@jamesskinner7744]

Eaton makes a great product and their customer support is the best. Ask me how I know! My new Eaton Polar Air 7.5 HP compressor failed when less than 2 years old due to a failure in the pressure lubrication system. Eaton sent me a new pump at no cost and did not even want the old pump back. The replacement pump just started showing signs it might be about to suffer a similar lubrication failure and it is only 10 months old with less than 100 hours of running time on it.
Turns out my infrequent use of the compressor is resulting in moisture contamination of the oil from humidity entering the crankcase via the breather. Most of the time, the compressor auto-starts on low system pressure just to make up for slow leaks in the air piping. It only takes around 30 seconds of run time to fully recharge the system and then the compressor stops. It never comes up to any operating temperature above ambient and is thus not heating the oil enough to drive out any moisture. Over time, the oil turns into a milky sludge plugging the oil pump inlet screen resulting in little or no oil pressure. Some of the condensed moisture pools at the bottom of the sump where it is sucked into the oil pump leading to the crankshaft ball bearings being lubricated with water, not oil. Corrosion sets in and the pump eventually locks up and will not turn over at all.
This should not be a problem for anyone who runs the machine long enough for it to come up to full operating temperature, but for infrequent users like me, it is a real problem. Eaton is now offering an electric heating pad to affix to the bottom of the crankcase to maintain the pump and oil above ambient temperature even when the machine is left off for long periods. Eaton's service manager advised me that they are seeing this problem primarily in the humid southern states along the gulf coast, not so much in the drier western states.
Keep an eye on the oil level in the sight glass. If the oil level appears to increase and/or if it starts looking a bit cloudy, change it immediately. Do not wait until the next scheduled oil change. It may be advisable to do more frequent oil changes than the factory recommended intervals if your environmental conditions and use patterns are leading to premature lubrication failure.
Yes, I know the compressor has a great warranty, and Eaton will replace it at no cost if it in warranty, but believe me, it is no fun having to disconnect and lift one of these heavy pumps off the tank and put another one on. Changing oil is a lot easier.

[@GrummanPilots]

Thanks and good to know, we will watch it.

[@donfrankish2855]

A video of no video of the product running? Why?

[@GrummanPilots]

Not hooked up yet or plumbed throughout the hangar, stay tuned.

[@tigwelding123]

💪🙏👍💯

[@GrummanPilots]

Thanks, should be a great compressor.

[@truthisweareallgonnadie.]

I can't find anywhere what duty cycle is can you help me out? Please tell me the duty cycle is 100percent? For the 5hp? If it isn't what about the 7.5hp?

[@GrummanPilots]

Duty cycle is time run divided by total elapsed time. Our runs about 3 percent of the time normally (every few days) but can run 50 percent or so during heavy use (bead blasting, rolox, etc)

[@truthisweareallgonnadie.]

@@GrummanPilots I'm just confused by all of this so it can only run 50percent of the time? I was looking at a Quincy that says a 100percent cycle time.

[@GrummanPilots]

@@truthisweareallgonnadie. We don't use it that hard, but I am sure that it can handle lots of running.

[@truthisweareallgonnadie.]

@@GrummanPilots so I just got off the phone with one of the people at Eaton compressors he said all their air compressors are 60/40 does that mean it can run 60percent of the time and need to cool down 40mins?

[@GrummanPilots]

cool down will be 40 percent of the time, in an hour 36 minutes of run, 24 of rest.
Your math.@@truthisweareallgonnadie.

[@johnversluis3084]

You are miss lead higher pressure doesn't mean your getting more volume of air its the backward less pressure more volume so if turn don't pressure switch you have a bit more volume of compressed air and less heat and moisture in the air line and tank and less ware and tear on the pump

[@diegochavez9913]

Can u further explain?